Abstract
Background : - a number of individuals in developing countries do not attend physicians for their illnesses; instead they commonly use self-medication. Self-medication could be using drugs existing in home like over the counter (OCT) drugs, traditional medicine or non- pharmacological action. Aim of this study was to assess the practice of self-medication in Arada Sub city town, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Methods : - a community based cross sectional study was carried out in Arada sub City from Feb 20 to Feb 27, 2019. Data was collected by Semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaire, consisting questions on general demographic, socio-economic as well as on perceived illness /symptoms in two weeks recall period and actions taken for it; and administered to respondents of the 412 systematically selected households. The data was analyzed and presented using tables and chi-square calculation. Result: - Out of the 386 individuals with perceived illness, 142 (39.9%) were self-medicated and females 82 (58.27%) were more self-medicated than males. The most frequent illness/symptom reported for self-medication was fever (40.6%). Most of the drugs (41.95%) used for self-medication were obtained from drug retail outlets, and previous experience for the perceived low severity of illness/symptoms (41.1%) was the main reason for self-medication. Conclusion & Recommendation:- S elf-medication is widely practiced for a wide range of illnesses/symptoms and by using OTC drugs, prescription only drugs and also traditional medicine/non-pharmacological action. The public as well as the health care providers have to be educated on the scope of self-medication; i.e., the type of illnesses to be self-diagnosed and self-treated, and the type of drug products to be used in order to promote responsible self-medication. Keywords: Self-medication; Arada subcity, OTC drug DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/74-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2020
Highlights
Out of the known many symptoms several peoples are experiences, only a small proportion with an estimate of 10-30%, are brought to the attention of physicians
For minor illness people have often restored to self-medication, preferring an over the counter(OTC) service at their pharmacists to the time consuming visit to a doctor(5)
The sub city is located in the center of Addis Ababa and various population of people living in the Arada sub city, which belonging to different ethnic groups of the country
Summary
Background: Out of the known many symptoms several peoples are experiences, only a small proportion with an estimate of 10-30%, are brought to the attention of physicians. This presumes that the majority of the symptoms is either tolerated or self-medicated (1). Self-medication one form of self-care is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self- recognized illnesses or symptoms of illnesses (2). Self- medication involves the use of medicinal products by the consumer to treat self- recognized disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of medication prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring diseases or symptoms (3). For minor illness people have often restored to self-medication, preferring an over the counter(OTC) service at their pharmacists to the time consuming visit to a doctor(5)
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